[ RadSafe ] Isotope shortage affects patients

[Theodore Wentworth]

Hard to believe but true! This happens about every couple of years. 
 
T.R.

>>> "Brunkow, Ward" <ward.brunkow at wipp.ws> 12/06/07 9:10 AM >>>
Having worked with most of the U.S. DOE, power utilities and some
medical/research reactors in the U.S., I would find it hard to believe
we get all our Tc99 from Canada. My last dose came out of Richmond,
Virginia and they acted like it was obtained somewhere on the Atlantic
Seaboard locally. It was obtained under a late request. University of
Missouri Reactor at Columbia I think has produced a lot of medical
isotopes in the U.S.   I know the Canadians have huge inventories of
Co60, that the world does rely on. 

W. G. (Ward) Brunkow



-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Fear [mailto:FEARP at upstate.edu] 
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 7:01 AM
To: joseroze at netvision.net.il; radsafe at radlab.nl; Brunkow, Ward
Subject: RE: [ RadSafe ] Isotope shortage affects patients

Actually it has nothing to do with the Canadian health system. There is
only
one producer of Mo99 - the precursor of Tc99m - in the entire western
hemisphere. We normally have 15-20 doses waiting every morning when we
get
to work and more before 9 am - today we have had none! MDS Nordian
announced
yesterday that the reactor would probably be done until the middle of
January.

Pete

Peter Fear
Health Physics Technologist
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Radiation Safety Office
636 UH
750 E. Adams St.
Syracuse, NY 13210

Phone: (315)464-6510
FAX:     (315)464-5095
fearp at upstate.edu 



>>> "Brunkow, Ward" <ward.brunkow at wipp.ws> 12/06/07 8:46 AM >>>
This is predictable. It goes with the Canadian health system. It appears
that Chalk River is one of the few places producing Tc99m up there. I
requested Tc99 the last time I had cardiac analysis from my Dr.  as I
work
in a nuclear facility and didn't' want to be radioactive for 3 weeks
walking
in the place. I threw my Dr. for a loop, he thought I was an oncologist
or
something, but it was  not hard to get. It appears the Canadian govt.
has
compromised the medical radionuclide production process just as they
have
the socialized health care system. But Tec is a very short T1/2 and any
interruptions in a place like CR would definitely stop the availability
of
it. They just need many other facilities that can produce it, like we do
in
the U.S.   If there is a demand, as in any free market or private
system,
why not be producing plenty of it...but again their govt. is running
their
health care system...there you go. 

W.G.(Ward)Brunkow



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